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〃violation of the Monroe Doctrine。〃 As a matter of fact； the
Monroe Doctrine was no more concerned in the matter than was the
doctrine of the Perseverance of the Saints； but there was enough
to start an outcry against Germany； and so it began to spread。
The Germans were careful to observe the best precedents in
international law； yet every step they took was exhibited in
sundry American papers as a menace to the United States。 There
was no more menace to the United States than to the planet
Saturn。 The conduct of the German Government was in the interest
of the United States as well as of every other decent government。
Finally； the soldiers in a Venezuelan fort wantonly fired upon a
German war vesselwhereupon the commander of the ship； acting
entirely in accordance； not only with international law； but with
natural right； defended himself； and knocked the fort about the
ears of those who occupied it； thus giving the creatures who
directed them a lesson which ought to rejoice every thinking
American。 At this the storm on paper against Germany； both in
America and Great Britain； broke out with renewed violence； and
there was more talk about dangers to the Monroe Doctrine。 As one
who； at The Hague Conference； was able to do something for
recognition of the Monroe Doctrine by European powers； and who；
as a member of the Venezuelan Commission； did what was possible
to secure justice to Venezuela； I take this opportunity to
express the opinion that the time has come for plain speaking in
this matter。 Even with those of us who believe in the Monroe
Doctrine there begins to arise a question as to which are nearest
the interests and the hearts of Americans；the sort of 〃dumb
driven cattle〃 who allow themselves to be governed by such men as
now control Venezuela； or the people of Germany and other
civilized parts of Europe； as well as those of the better South
American republics； like Chile； the Argentine Republic； Brazil；
and others； whose interests； aspirations； ideals； and feelings
are so much more closely akin to our own。
Occasionally； too； there have arisen plaintive declarations that
the Emperor does not love the United States or admire its
institutions。 As to that I never saw or heard of anything showing
dislike to our country； but； after all； he is a free man； and
there is nothing in international law or international comity
requiring him to love the United States； it is sufficient that he
respects what is respectable in our government and people； and we
may fairly allow to him his opinion on sundry noxious and
nauseous developments among us which we hope may prove temporary。
As to admiring our institutions； he is probably not fascinated by
our lax administration of criminal justice； which leaves at large
more unpunished criminals； and especially murderers； than are to
be found in any other part of the civilized world； save；
possibly； some districts of lower Italy and Sicily。 He probably
does not admire Tammany Hall or the Philadelphia Ring； and has
his own opinion of cities which submit to such tyranny； quite
likely he has not been favorably impressed by the reckless waste
and sordid jobbery recently revealed at St。 Louis and
Minneapolis； it is exceedingly doubtful whether he admires some
of the speeches on national affairs made for the 〃Buncombe
district〃 and the galleries； but that he admires and respects the
men in the United States who do things worth doing； and say
things worth saying； that he takes a deep interest in those
features of our policy； or achievements of our people； which are
to our credit； that he enjoys the best of our literature； that he
respects every true American soldier and sailor； every American
statesman or scholar or writer or worker of any sort who really
accomplishes anything for our country； is certain。
To sum up his position in contemporary history： As the German
nation is the result of an evolution of individual and national
character in obedience to resistless inner forces and to its
environment； so out of the medley of imperial and royal
Hohenstaufens； Hapsburgs； Wittelsbachs； Wettins； Guelphs； and the
like； have arisen； as by a survival of the fittest； the
Hohenzollerns。 These have given to the world various strong
types； and especially such as the Great Elector； Frederick II；
and William I。 Mainly under them and under men trained or
selected by them； Germany； from a great confused mass of warriors
and thinkers and workers； militant at cross…purposes； wearing
themselves out in vain struggles； and preyed upon by malevolent
neighbors； has become a great power in arms； in art； in science；
in literature； a fortress of high thought； a guardian of
civilization； the natural ally of every nation which seeks the
better development of humanity。 And the young monarch who is now
at its headoriginal； yet studious of the great men and deeds of
the past； brave； yet conciliatory； never allowing the mail…clad
fist to become unnerved； but none the less devoted to the
conquests of peace； standing firmly on realities； but with a
steady vision of idealsseems likely to add a new name to the
list of those who； as leaders of Germany； have advanced the
world。
CHAPTER XLV
AS PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN DELEGATION AT THE PEACE CONFERENCE
OF THE HAGUE： I1899
On the 24th of August； 1898； the Russian Government proposed； in
the name of the Emperor Nicholas II； a conference which should
seek to arrest the constantly increasing development of armaments
and thus contribute to a durable peace； and on the 11th of
January； 1899； his minister of foreign affairs； Count Mouravieff；
having received favorable answers to this proposal； sent forth a
circular indicating the Russian view as to subjects of
discussion。 As to the place of meeting； there were obvious
reasons why it should not be the capital of one of the greater
powers。 As to Switzerland； the number of anarchists and nihilists
who had taken refuge there； and the murder of the Empress of
Austria by one of them shortly before； at Geneva； in broad
daylight； had thrown discredit over the ability of the Swiss
Government to guarantee safety to the conference； the Russian
Government therefore proposed that its sessions be held at The
Hague； and this being agreed to； the opening was fixed for the
18th of May。
From the first there was a misunderstanding throughout the world
as to what the Emperor Nicholas really proposed。 Far and near it
was taken for granted that he desired a general disarmament； and
this legend spread rapidly。 As a matter of fact； this was neither
his proposal nor his purpose； the measures he suggested being
designed 〃to put an end to the constantly increasing development
of armaments。〃
At the outset I was skeptical as to the whole matter。 What I had
seen of the Emperor Nicholas during my stay in Russia had not
encouraged me to expect that he would have the breadth of view or
the strength of purpose to carry out the vast reforms which
thinking men hoped for。 I recalled our conversation at my
reception as minister； when； to my amazement； he showed himself
entirely ignorant of the starving condition of the peasantry
throughout large districts in the very heart of the empire。＇8＇
That he was a kindly man； wishing in a languid way the good of
his country； could not be doubted； but the indifference to
everything about him evident in all his actions； his lack of
force